This Boyz Wife!

They ride horses. They cook lemon chicken. And - aww! - their tums flip over each time they set eyes on each other. The very happily married Ronan Keating talks to Smash Hits about life with his wife!

How's married life treating you?

It's perfect, brilliant. It's everything I wanted it to be.

How did you know Yvonne was 'the one'?

(All dreamy eyed) She just is. There's no words that can express how I feel about her. When I see her me legs go weak, me tummy turns upside down and me head goes light. It's just everything. Love is an incredible feeling and when you find it, you know about it. I never knew what it was like until I met Yvonne.

How did you meet?

We first met when we were 13 or 14, but then we lost contact for years, and then when we met up again we were best friends for a year-and-a-half. But it got to the point when I either had to tell her that I loved her or walk away and never see her again. Luckily, I choose the first option because I knew in my heart that it was right.

Is it difficult having to spend so much time away from Yvonne?

We've made a pact that we'll spend as much time together as possible. Wherever either of us are, we'll make time to go and see each other.

How did you manage to keep your wedding so secret?

Hahaha! We just didn't tell anybody! That was a good way of doing it! Nobody knew about the wedding, apart from Viv (that's Yvonne) and myself. I told my brother Gary as well, and he came to the wedding, but that was it.

Did you get some good wedding presents?

(Excitedly) Oh yeah! We got some lovely crystal, and a horse box and horse saddles and stuff, because, er, we've got horses! We got some really lovely gifts, actually. Did we get any toasters? Yeah, we got a few toasters and kettles as well!

Who does the housework?

We both do! We share it and neither of us works any harder than the other one.

So are you a dab hand at hoovering?

(Smiling) I'll try me hand at anything, but I especially like to do a bit of cooking here and there. I've learnt how to make various dishes from reading cookery books - lemon chicken is my speciality!

Have you had your first dinner party yet?

Not yet. The house is being decorated at the moment and it's not finished, so we're going to have to wait until all the work's done. But I'm sure there will be plenty of dinner parties to come!

How's the house coming along?

Well, we moved into it last Christmas and we've been doing stuff to it ever since, like building garages and driveways and putting up gates. But I have to admit I'm not doing it myself! We're hoping to have a lot of it done before Christmas - that'll be wonderful!

Any plans to have kids?

Well, you never know... We're just getting used to married life first! We'd love to have a family at some stage - I want at least 18 kids!

What are your work plans for the future?

We've got the UK tour and an American tour coming up. We're hoping to launch the new album in the States in August, and we plan to have a 'Greatest Hits' album out at Christmas. We're going to be very busy - it's all go, go, go! It's great, though - everything's going brilliantly and the album's number one in almost every country it's been released.

Is there any truth in the rumours that you're launching a TV career?

Yes, the BBC have offered me a show called Get Your Act Together which is involved with music so I definitely want to do it. Basically, up-and-coming artists send me in their demo tapes and I pick one and match them up with a producer, a choreographer and stylist. Then they have 48 hours to go off and create a hit record, which they perform at the end of the show.

What about the rumours you're set to present a dating show?

I have been offered a show like Singled Out which I'd love to do, but sadly I'm not going to have the time.

Is it true that you've recorded a song with Shania Twain?

Yes, Shania and I have done a record for Christmas called From This Moment. I'm very excited about it.

Please tell us you're not leaving Boyzone!

No, no, no! We've got the greatest hits album to come and a new album out next year, and also a world tour to do next year. We're getting bigger than we've ever been, so I'm certainly not quitting for a long time yet!

Hurrah!

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